Hello again,
Here is another letter that came under my door, last week.
WHAT YOU SEE ISNT WHAT YOU GETMANITOBA HOUSING DECEIVES TENANTSDear Fellow Tenants:This is a follow-up to the letter concerning 30 second sprays at 185 Smith, month after month, year after year with no end to the bedbugs in our lifetime and the ineffectiveness of the bedbug treatments at 185 Smith and all of Manitoba Housing.I have had bedbugs for over 4 years at 185 Smith and have been treated over 30 times in this period, with no end in sight. During this 4 year period, I have always had bed bugs to some extent but recently something has changed in that my suite is now considered bedbug free. The only problem is that I still have bedbugs, but during my last inspection the inspectors checked the traps and did a quick look around and told me that my suite was bedbug free. When I pointed out that there were bedbugs on one trap and why was I considered bedbug free, I was told not to worry about the bugs as the trap had done its job and caught the bedbugs. My trap had caught 2 bedbugs, so odds are there are many more hiding in the wall because using insect traps doesnt guarantee that you will catch them all. If it did there would be no need to spray chemicals and there wouldnt be a bedbug problem at 185 Smith and Manitoba Housing.So here I am not getting treated when I have activity and other tenants are getting treated when they dont have activity as one of my neighbors is, does this make sense to you? I originally thought the problem was strictly with the treatments and not with the inspections, but after this last encounter I have come to the realization that the inspection process is equally at fault. Whether the trap catches or doesnt catch bedbugs the result is considered the same, no activity. This is total bullshit and is just another example of how ineffective their inspections and treatments are. After talking with my property manager friend and friends at 185 Smith and other buildings, I have come to the following conclusion, which is the only one that makes sense. It seems that Manitoba Housing is not being honest with how many suites have bedbug activity, as how are they to be believed when their inspectors can look you in the eye and lie about there being no bedbug activity, when there obviously is.The more I thought about this, the madder I became. If Manitoba Housing has to lie about the number of suites that have bedbug activity, then the problem is obviously out of control. This doesnt surprise me as I have found out that over 300 units approximately are being treated at 185 Smith each month in a day or two. How can they expect to get rid of the bedbugs when they spent 30 seconds spraying each suite. In my conversations with local pest control experts, I was told that at least 15 to 20 minutes was necessary in each suite to have a chance to get rid of the bedbugs. Every month most tenants spend hours preparing for a bedbug treatment that usually lasts 30 seconds. I have no problem in preparing my suite for treatment but I expect, no, I demand that an honest effort be made to try and get rid of the bedbugs. Obviously they dont care about us as tenants or in getting rid of the bedbug problem that has plaqued Manitoba Housing for many years when the best they can do is a 30 second spray and they lie about the number of suites with bedbug activity. We have all seen on CBC, the pathetic excuse of a bedbug treatment where Manitoba Housing bug sprayers were pouring chemicals down a kitchen sink, not wearing a mask, talking on a phone and not doing a proper job in someones home. We have also seen on CBC, the problems the tenants at 101 Marion are having with bedbugs and how upset they are about the never ending 30 second sprays. We have also seen on CBC, the out of control cockroach problem at a building on Kennedy Street. Obviously, there are major problems with the pest control services at Manitoba Housing and the current management provided by Dave Funk and Dean Geller. I have seen Dave Funk talk on TV one time about how Manitoba Housing would stay the course and continue what they were doing to try and solve their pest control problems. I say to Dave Funk, why would you want to stay on a course that is obviously failing and it is time for a new course. I, and many of my friends at 185 Smith and many other Manitoba Housing buildings have lost all faith in the current management provided by Dave Funk and Dean Geller and would like to see Poulins return or possibly Monarch Pest Company and have either take over the bedbug treatments at 185 Smith and all of Manitoba Housing. Whether the current pest control program is allowed to continue, a mistake, or whether they start using Poulins or Monarch, or another commercial company, one thing is very important. That is that there be no connection between the bug spraying and the inspections. This is the only way to keep the results honest as the current numbers of units with bedbug activity provided by Manitoba Housing are extremely suspect.I am fed up with being manipulated and lied to and you should be too. As I have stated before and as some of you have already shown by contacting the media and elected representatives, is that we have a voice and that voice will be heard. Write your local government representatives and add your voice to the growing number who are doing the same, so we may finally get treated with the respect that we deserve and demand. We may live at Manitoba Housing but we deserve the same respect and rights as other citizens expect, as we are not second- class citizens. I have included the same list of people to contact with a few additions. We must rise up and fight for our rights and now is the time to do it. Lets end the madness now.
My hope is that after you have read this letter you will share your story. We want other tenants of 185 Smith to share their stories on the ineffectiveness of the spraying and the inspections. We also want tenants of other Manitoba Housing buildings to do the same, as I am distributing this same letter to multiple buildings as well as various media outlets and government officials.Go to the 21st floor of 185 Smith and demand answers as to why we are still itching and scratching at night and are still infested with bedbugs.
Let these people know if you are being treated for bedbugs. How many times have you been treated for bedbugs and for how many months or years. Let them know if the problem is getting better or worse. Have you been threatened with eviction or been talked down to? Let them know how long it takes for them to spray your unit or to inspect it. Let them know if you have bedbug activity and are not getting treated. Let them know about your frustrations or concerns. These people and organizations will listen and help.
I also ask that you speak with friends and family in other Manitoba Housing buildings and ask them if they have similar experiences with the pest control service provided by Manitoba Housing. If so, have them call and write as well, and lend their voices to the cause.
We have to understand that there is strength in numbers and by writing and calling in, we will make our concerns known. By doing this we will be heard and we will affect positive change. Also, call and mail these people continuously until they agree to help. We must be relentless in our pursuit of justice as we cannot and will not live with the bedbugs anymore. I would like to thank you for lending your voices to this very important causeenough is enoughthe madness ends now!!
BBA
Read the original here:
Manitoba housing IPMG Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums